Leek
Lanzia, who many believe is "the Liberator" mentioned
in the Prophecy, is given command of the remnants of the mutant
army after it is decimated by the TGA's seemingly invincible hovertanks.
He must reorganize and rebuild the army if there is going to be
any chance of stopping the TGA from marching all the way to Rigomol
and overrunning the capital city. After losing a bid to becoming
chancellor, Lorin aligns herself with Leek in order to preserve
the organization she and her father have so painstakingly built
and to save the Nanomites from Videl Lai's ordered genocide. While
rebuilding the Loyalist's 3rd Army, Leek proves himself a capable
leader and quickly gains the support and admiration of his soldiers
and the people of Tarizon. But as the war drags on Leek yearns
to rescue his mate, Lucinda, held captive by Videl Lai in the
capital city of Shisk.

Review
by Molly MartinRating
9/10
William Manchee's Tarizon: Civil War continues the Sci
Fi/Fantasy trilogy begun by attorney writer, Manchee, on the pages
of Tarizon:
The Liberator.

On the pages of
Cactus Island; Stan and Rebekah Turner's son Peter was kidnapped,
not by humans on earth, but by inhabitants of Tarizon who have
been waiting for the one who is to lead The Seafolken and those
who are awaiting liberation from a dictator growing more powerful
each day.

Peter's abrupt seizure into the Tarizon space craft, Earth Shuttle
21, brings Peter to Tarizon where his new life has begun. Lucinda
Dimitri who was assigned to aid Peter during his orientation to
his surroundings, new language, and growing awareness of what
his role in this strange new land will be, is now Peter's mate
who is carrying his child. Lucinda has been taken prisoner causing
Captain Leek Lanzia, as Peter is now known, to worry for her safety
even as he and the 3rd Loyalist Army continue the battle against
Videl Lai and his tyrant rule.

Despite the prophesy that eventually the Liberator will be victorious,
the ongoing battle continues right now. Tarizon: Civil War Vol
2 opens with death, destruction and a dearth of supplies; The
Battle of Tribution is well underway.

Hovertanks, intelligence briefings, an Earth Shuttle Rendezvous,
T-47 fighters and TGA troops, a woman named Tehra, a momentous
election, an order from Videl Lai to begin genocide of all Nanomite
swarms telepathic communication and battles, more than a few battles,
all serve to forward the tale in this action packed, fast paced
narrative.

The death of Videl Lai might have signalled the end to the war
were it not for the charge he gave to his son. Evohn Cystrom watched
horrified as his father was torn apart by two rhutz, as much as
Evohn wanted to go to his father's aid he could not. Videl Lai,
while his adoptive father, was good to Evohn as any parent might
be. It was Evohn who had managed to abduct the Liberator's mate,
General Zitor and Lorin Boskie and to deliver them into the hands
of the TGA. For that deed Evohn had received a promotion to Captain
and now, his father was dead.

With the death of Lai; Evohn Cystrom had been ordered to take
the shuttle back to Clarion and implement Operation Conquest Earth.
So be it, if that was his mission, it was one Evohn would see
to the end.

The news of the fall of Shisk and Videl's death was cause for
the people of Tarizon to take to the streets in celebration. With
the fall of the TGA the 3rd Army quickly entered Shisk and marched
to the Capitol Building. Seafolken had secured the site, the 3rd
and 5th Loyalist Armies took control of the city as well as the
state of Soni. The terms of surrender were generous, while the
TGA soldiers were required to give up their arms, they were sent
home following their taking an oath to never take up arms again
unless they were members of the Loyalist Army.

Captain Lanzia was a little puzzled when Threebeard asked to have
a private face to face conversation with him. His puzzlement intensified
as Leek listened to Threebeard's confession that the attempt for
rescue of his mate was thwarted by Threebeard himself. However,
any anger Lanzia might have felt was eased as he listened to Threebeard's
explanation.

I have followed Manchee's writing from the beginning of his first
series featuring attorney Stan Turner and his family. I have yet
to be disappointed in any of Manchee's burgeoning body of work.

Once more he proves his increasing expertise as a writer. Manchee's
turn from human Stan Turner to the people of Tarizon has been
accomplished with innovation and imagination. Characters continue
bright, stirring, and overflowing with energy. Dialog as always
is appropriate, often resolute, and pounding with strength. This
particular genre stratagem is compelling, appealing and more than
a little extraordinary.

Situations are meticulous in depth bringing the reader straight
into the action. Concentration is undeniable from commencement
of the book right to the last sentences. As always story line
interweaving includes, tactics, subterfuge, an abundance of chicanery
all portrayed in will conceived prose. Manchee's,
heroes continue valiant, while his scoundrels continue to be out-and-out
brutal.

As Manchee has shown excellent aptitude for crafting compelling
mysteries, he is proving as competent fashioning his Sci Fi/Fantasy
offerings also. While the Tarizon Trilogy is loosely a by-product
of the Stan Turner Mystery series this new genre series is readable
and well understood without going back and reading the Mysteries
for background.

I am a fan of Manchee mysteries and advocate that if you have
never read any of Manchee's work in the past; please do consider
his other writings in addition to this trilogy.

I find the Trilogy to be a stirring series, and Tarizon: Civil
War Volume 2 to be an electrifying book.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.Molly
Martin (27th September 2009)